The front axle will be pulled & sold tomorrow, as Mira's XJ will be getting my "old" 53K-mile Dana 30/Dana 44 axles. I hadn't planned on pulling the front axle just yet, but a buyer popped up for the HP D30, and out it'll come.

Mira's project is back underway (WOOT!), but we should informally rename it "Project Identity Crisis" (LOL) because...

This 100% rust-free, 1997 XJ 2-door from Texas found its way into my driveway this past weekend (bought it from unclemyke). It's currently 2WD, but we have all the stuff to convert it to 4WD (a 94K-mile driveline, with 53K-mile Dana 30/Dana 44 axles).

I have my daughters for the long holiday weekend this year, so we have a "hit list" of things to start working on, including:

Install an iPod-ready stereo

Install Gentex Temp/Compass rearview mirror'

Start installing cleaner interior bits (this one is kind of dirty, and the headliner is sagging).

Shortly (after I get a parts XJ out of the garage), we'll start thinking more seriously about installing 2" TeraFlex BB spacers in front, and H.D. Offroad Engineering shackle relocation in the rear (if time allows). We also have a set of 2011 JK Rubicon shocks all-around. The rear Dana 44 install won't be far behind.

Successful 10-minute installation of a Pioneer iPod-ready stereo in Mira's XJ. It was pulled from another Cherokee ("freebie" from a parts Jeep), and already had the adapter harness wired up. Test-run with the Foo Fighters. Rock on!

Mira driving the new XJ out back. The kid's a good driver!

We also removed the stock front bumper, and will finish up the grinding work on the JCR DIY front bumper shortly.

We're also parting out a 2000 XJ that had all of the OEM skid plates (front/engine/transfer case/gas tank), as well as an ARB front bumper. Mira will get the skid plates, with the exception of the t-case skid plate (she already has a JCR Offroad one), and her little sister Maeve will get the ARB front bumper for her '99 XJ 2-door.

Hiya, Mira here. I want to send out a HUGE thanks to our friend, Mitch Ware, for sponsoring my jeep project with a cash donation. We really appreciate your generosity to my jeep project. We will use the money well.

I also want to thank JCR Offroad for sponsoring me with an AWESOME discount on my Ultimate Sliders for my Jeep Cherokee. I appreciate it and I will post pictures of them once we get them installed.

Quick update (as of last weekend)...I bought a "new" house (no garage yet) in January, so progress has been slow with the move, getting settled in, etc.

Mira & I (finally) finished painting her brake calipers with Eastwood caliper paint (one of Mira's sponsorships). We obviously did it with brushes vs. spraying. Overall, it seems like good stuff, and seems to be more durable initially than some Duplicolor (aerosol) caliper paint I have used in the past.

A couple weeks ago, I got the calipers/pads installed, and the brake lines hooked up & bled. I would have liked to have done this with Mira, but am trying to balance progress with the limited time I have with my girls (I'm a divorced dad, and this was a non-kid weekend).

After the install, I got it out for a road test for the first time with the 3.73 gearing and disc brakes. I really liked the gearing with the 31" (actual 30") tires. The brakes seemed to work pretty well, but I may look into a disc/disc proportioning valve before it's all done. It feels like I could still gain some braking performance out of this set-up. Keep in mind that, while it was a different vehicle platform, the rear axle (and the front that will eventually be swapped in) came out of my former 2005 Unlimited, so I know how the brakes performed on that vehicle.

Today, over Memorial weekend, we made some more progress. Mira swapped out a broken tail light (probably the first of many), and we got the rear bumper removed in preparation for installing her JCR Offroad gas tank skid plate.

Mira & her little sis Maeve helped get the bolts in after I hoisted it up under the Jeep. We also used JCR nut strips, which made the install very easy & straightforward.

LOL. No major updates, and no parting out of anything. I did get the remaining interior bits pulled from the 94K-mile donor XJ. Other than that, though, Mira has just been busy with some summer camps, and other summer fun. We hope to get back to her XJ soon.